Asked by: Prof. Nico Ferry
Score: 4.5/5
(55 votes)
We made changes where we felt they were needed». But where they were needed, Jews were tolerated. In many respects, Chrysler focused its improvements where they were needed most. They were needed first to cushion recession, and then to bring on economic growth.
Are needed or were needed?
In spoken language we might hear «need». However, «needed — past form» is correct because it follows the first verb «knew», which is the past. We can say the past «needed» is correct.
How do you use were in a sentence?
For the past indicative second person and all plural forms, use were. “They were in the stadium,” and “You were standing the whole game.” Also use were for the hypothetical or fantastical subjunctive mood for both singular and plural forms, as in “If they were to bring back popcorn, I would eat it.”
How can I use needed in a sentence?
Needed sentence example
- I thought you needed to sleep longer because you were working so hard getting ready. …
- «I needed you,» she insisted. …
- Maybe they all needed to know. …
- As always, he had been there when she needed him. …
- He needed glasses, but he wouldn’t admit it.
Where do we use needed?
Need is a semi-modal verb because in some ways it is like a modal verb and in other ways like a main verb. We use need mostly in the negative form to indicate that there is no obligation or necessity to do something: You needn’t take off your shoes.
45 related questions found
What are examples of a need?
A need is something thought to be a necessity or essential items required for life. Examples include food, water, and shelter. A want is something unnecessary but desired or items which increase the quality of living. Examples include a car stereo, CD’s, car, and designer clothes.
Are needed for meaning?
1. A condition or situation in which something must be supplied in order for a certain condition to be maintained or a desired state to be achieved: crops in need of water; a child’s need for affection. 2. Something required or wanted; a requisite: «Those of us who led the charge for these women’s issues …
What does much needed mean?
(a) much-needed (report): (a report) which is highly necessary.
How do you use don’t in a sentence?
We use don’t have to to say that there is no obligation or necessity to do something. For example: «You don’t have to do the exercises at the end of this page.» We use mustn’t to show that something is not allowed.
Where and were used in a sentence?
Were is the past tense of be when used as a verb. Where means in a specific place when used as an adverb or conjunction. A good way to remember the difference is that where has an «h» for «home», and home is a place. Out of the two words, «were» is the most common.
Was and were in sentences?
Generally, “was is used for singular objects and “were” is used for plural objects. So, you will use “was” with I, he, she and it while you will use “were” with you, we and they. … Even though you are singular, you must use “were”.
Is as it were grammatically correct?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the phrase “as it were” means that a statement or word is not completely accurate. Wiktionary offers an additional meaning, suggesting that this phrase can also be used to point out that something is a metaphor or other type of figurative image.
What does when needed mean?
When needed — means you perform an action WHEN you need to. Examples: If you continue to feel pain, take a painkiller when needed. Add more pepper to the food if needed. There isn’t a big difference.
Was up and about?
: out of bed and doing things She recently had surgery, but now she’s up and about again.
What need to be done or what needs to be done?
What is needed to be done is incorrect because needed is the simple past tense and past participle of need. What needs to be done is correct because needs is the third-person singular simple present indicative form of need.
What does it mean you don’t have to?
Don’t have to means there is NO obligation to do something. You are not required to do something, especially if you don’t want to. You can do the thing if you want to.
What can’t you start a sentence with?
Or never begins a sentence, paragraph, or chapter. Never begin a sentence—or a clause—with also. Teach the elimination of but, so, and, because, at the beginning of a sentence. A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, or however….
Do and dont sentences?
Examples:
- In the back of the guide there’s a list of the dos and don’ts of local etiquette.
- It’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of diplomatic receptions.
- I must confess that a bunch of the do’s and don’ts don’t create much wisdom to me either.
- It pays to know the dos and don’ts of political conference in advance.
Is much-needed proper English?
Use the phrase as an adjective, and hyphenation is preferred. Use «needed» as an appositive (subjective complement) with «much» as a modifier, and it works with or without the hyphen. «This is a much-needed change.»
What means badly needed?
Badly needed means ‘much’ or ‘very much’. If we ‘badly need’ something, it means that we need something ‘very much’.
What is a stronger word for need?
Synonym Study
In this page you can discover 119 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for need, like: requirement, pennilessness, obligation, sine qua non (Latin), require, indigence, insufficiency, exigency, shortage, requisite and compulsion.
What should I say instead of need?
- condition,
- demand,
- essential,
- must,
- must-have,
- necessary,
- necessity,
- needful,
How do you say something needed?
Synonyms
- need. verb. if you need something, you must have it because it is necessary.
- require. verb. to need someone or something.
- cry out for. phrasal verb. to clearly need something a lot.
- depend on. phrasal verb. …
- rely on. phrasal verb. …
- demand. verb. …
- take. verb. …
- claim. verb.
Who needed meaning?
used to mean that the thing referred to is not necessary or useful, or causes trouble: Men! Who needs them? Of little or less importance. be in/under sb’s shadow idiom.
It’s important in English to use the correct preposition when we want to convey our meaning of a word. In this article, we’ll look at the difference between using “need of” and “need for” and when either of them is appropriate.
Is It “Need Of” Or “Need For”?
“Need of” should be used when someone is “in need” and is desperate to have something. It may also be used formally to mean “have need of,” though usually just “need” will suffice. “Need for” should be used when saying there is a “need” for something in particular to happen.
According to The Cambridge Dictionary, “need” means “to have to have something, or to want something very much.” We can use it to talk about possessions or something less tangible (like a “need for silence”).
Is “Need Of” Or “Need For” Used The Most?
Let’s go over which of the two phrases and prepositions is more commonly seen in English. With this information, you should start being able to figure out which is more common and why we say it.
According to this graph, “need for” is the most popular choice. That’s because there are more situations where “need for” is used in writing./ Generally, “need of” is only used in more specific situations (like being “in need of something”).
Whenever we come across two similar phrases, we can always look at the most popular written choice as the one that appears in more contexts. That usually means you’ll come across it yourself more often when you’re learning the language.
While we encourage you to learn both variations and what they mean, “need for” is clearer going to come up more frequently, so it’s more important to emphasize your learning of that to really get to understand it.
7 Examples Of How To Use “Need Of” In A Sentence
We find that examples are some of the most useful ways for us to teach you about new words and phrases. We’ll include some examples for both forms with the prepositions, and we’ll start with “need of.”
- I’m in need of some food if you have any spare.
- I’m in desperate need of money!
- I’m in need of new clothes but don’t have any money to buy them.
- We had need of shelter, and we were lucky to find it when we did.
- I’m in need of things that I’ve never had access to.
- Why is everyone in need of my time? I’m fully booked!
- I’m in need of a break. I hear there’s a nice spa not too far from here.
Usually, “need of” is followed by either “in” or “have.” When we use “in need of,” it means we don’t have something that we would really like to have (or we must have, depending on the urgency).
We use “have need of” in a more formal sense. It’s easier to replace it with just “need” as the verb in a more informal sense, but “have need of” means that there was a need for a particular thing to happen.
7 Examples Of How To Use “Need For” In A Sentence
Now let’s find out what makes “need for” so much more popular. It’s definitely going to come up more frequently, so pay close attention to these examples and what sets them apart from “need of.”
- There’s a need for balancing in these books before we end up bankrupt.
- We have a desperate need for equality.
- There’s a need for a change before the climate crisis spirals out of control.
- There is an urgent need for discipline in this school.
- I have no need for the things you’re offering me.
- I have no need for whatever it is you’re selling, so see you later!
- There’s a desperate need for more charitable donations here.
We typically use “need for” when we want to make a point that something is required of other people. Usually, it’s in reference to a place rather than a specific person, and we might be targeting a group of people when we’re talking about the “need.”
Usually, the words “a” or “an” will come before “need for” to emphasize the desperation of the word.
Need Of Or For – Synonyms
Synonyms and alternatives are a great way for you to explore your language knowledge and vocabulary. We’ll include a few examples of what you can use in place of “need of” and “need for.” Generally, these are seen as redundancies, and they can be shortened to the following:
- I (do not) need
This is the easiest way to shorten the phrase. It’s also the perfect synonym that means exactly the same as the two phrases. We can simply say “I need something” when we want to talk about having to have something.
- I require
“Require” is a verb that’s synonymous with “need.” That makes it another perfect example of a synonym that works to replace the waffle that is “in need of” or “a need for.”
What Is The Difference Between Needs And Wants?
Generally, we can group the words “needs” and “wants” together to roughly equate to things that people desire. However, there is an important distinction between the two.
“Needs” means that we desire something to the greatest extent or that we can’t possibly live without it. “Wants” means that we desire something without necessarily stating the extent. It shows a more general desire rather than an outright need.
Is It Ever Correct To Use “Needs Of” Or “Needs For”?
Whenever we use either of the phrases “needs of” or “needs for,” it’s important to look at situations where they might show up.
“Needs of” is correct when you want to use “the” before it to be more specific about the “needs.” “Needs for” is grammatically incorrect and is never used.
You can see what we mean about including “the” before “needs of” by looking at this famous saying:
- The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
This is a great example of when “needs of” is used, though it’s much rarer to come across than “need of” in the singular sense.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
If you are a fan of transitive verbs and words that summarize the meaning of feelings properly from a previous time, you need to know about the word «reminiscing» and learn how to use it in a sentence.
We normally use the word reminiscing when referring to an event or situation of the past that came to our mind in the present. The correct way to use it is in a sentence where you refer to a past event that comes to your thoughts in the current time and causes emotion.
Where does the word «reminiscing» come from?
More often than not, a lot of the words we use have their origin in Latin; reminiscing is not the exception. If we break down the word in its parts, we have the Latin word for «mind» that is «mens» and added to that the prefix re-. By putting these together, the verb «reminisi» was created. This verb means «to remember,» but there is more to it than just remembering. Also, reminiscing is the conjugated form of the root of the word reminisce in English.
The fact that the prefix re- was used changes the meaning into something profound, deepening the meaning of the word and involving imagery. So, reminisce or reminiscing essentially means to bring an image from the past to our mind, in a very literal way, in a way that we feel nostalgia and longing.
This is why reminiscing is a rather distinguished word used on a special occasion when we think of something memorable to us, and we do so fondly.
To reminisce or reminiscing is something we indulge in. When we remember is more connected to facts about memories, reminiscing means more to connect and live back that moment by allowing not only the memory to arise but also the feelings of that moment.
Reminiscing is a transitive verb
Think of transitive verbs as verbs that need a buddy for you to use them. So, when we use «to reminisce» or «reminiscing» in a sentence, we need an object to connect that to. An object is usually the «who» or «whom» in a sentence. That is why we reminisce about a place, a time, a person, an event, a memory. These all act as the object, the buddy, so reminiscing can be used correctly.
Intransitive verbs are the independent ones in the family of verbs, the lone sheep. While to reminisce we need an object to reminisce about.
Remember is another transitive verb that means something very similar to reminiscing, read below, and you’ll see what I mean.
Do I use remembering or reminiscing and when?
If you think that remembering and reminiscing are practically the same in meaning and use, you are not correct, but you are not wrong either. I will explain why.
When we remember, we are bringing back or recalling a memory; however, the memory does not necessarily emotionally connect to us. So, we remember without fondness and longing. Remembering is usually more connected to facts of people, dates, and events.
We can also remember information like if you are a lawyer, you know about the constitution and you have memorized terminology related to your career. Doctors in medicine also need to remember a lot of information often to do their jobs successfully, especially when diagnosing a patient.
So, when remembering, we are more objective. What we remember brings an image to us, something in our brain that connects to the information we need, but it is not usually connected emotionally. When we are reminiscing, we are emotionally affected by the memory we bring back; there is nostalgia and a want connected to that memory.
Reminiscing is also of personal meaning. It is not the same experience for me to think of the sunset of a particular day as it is to another person. The difference in what the memory represents and makes you feel will determine whether you are just remembering it or reminiscing about it.
We have learned what the word means, where it comes from, the different forms one can reminisce. The correct way to use reminiscing or reminisce is when we are referring to a memory that washes over us, a memory that brings feelings, usually as strong as the day we first felt them.
Now, let’s see some examples of how we can use reminiscing in a sentence:
- I found an old photo from my school days, and reminiscing took over me.
- Reminiscing of times together is a bittersweet memory. Time before I had to abjure his friendship.
- It has been years since we last visited them, but I still find myself reminiscing.
- High school reunions are all about reminiscing, living again.
- When I see children play, I often do reminiscing of better days when I was a child.
- Now that he is retired, he is constantly reminiscing about the times in the office.
- Hoarders use reminiscing as an excuse to accumulate more and never dispose of anything.
- Every time the family gathers, looking at old photos and reminiscing is inevitable.
- The death of her father brought on reminiscing of when her mother had passed.
- Reminiscing about an old love often brings the pain of the loss to the present.
- I went to The Computer Museum, and reminiscing took over me as I saw the big screens and the floppy disks.
- Visiting my home town hits the same every time. I can’t stop reminiscing about my youth and everything that happened there growing up.
- She often found her parents reminiscing of the old days.
- My mother always said reminiscing about the old days is living again.
- Some streets travelers walk have no connection to their past, but the history that lives in them makes it impossible to refrain from reminiscing.
So if you are to use «reminiscing,» keep in mind that because of the meaning of the word, use it only if you mean it. Otherwise, you can use remember, which is more about the act of evoking a memory or fact we have learned, also bringing back an image from a past event where feelings are not usually involved.
Should we be reminiscing?
I think we have all taken a stroll down memory lane, either a place, a smell, a date, or a person has brought us back to that moment. Generally, reminiscing is harmless, and honestly, it is only human to do so.
We are caught up reliving moments, experiences, places that we have visited, or create memories in. So, reminiscing is good, but there can also be a downside to it. If the way we reminisce is obsessive, used in an escapist way or instrumentally, it could turn an experience and memory into something else entirely.
Obsessive reminiscing
If you fall into this form of reminiscing, you will be a person who is fixated on the past, usually obsessed negatively in events that are long gone, but you allow it to come back to your life more often than you should. These memories bring you pain and make you feel down.
If you have caught yourself going back and reminiscing on the same memory, about the same place, person or event, and finding yourself feeling bummed out every time, then you are not reminiscing properly. You might need some reframing or to restructure your thinking about that memory.
Escapist reminiscing
On the other hand, escapist reminiscence is completely the opposite of obsessive. You would only focus on the good, the beautiful memories, how wonderful everything was. What this means is you would «escape» your current reality and replace it for a moment with a reality that you think of fondly, a place, time or people that made you very happy.
Why shouldn’t you? I think it is important to connect and embrace our current state, the place we are in, the people we are with. Otherwise, you miss out on making new memories, probably more memorable than those you keep going back to.
Instrumental reminiscing
I think this one is the lesser evil when used correctly. Just like a loaded gun in the wrong hands, instrumental reminiscing can be used as a building tool for personal, emotional growth, even career advancement.
You can use instrumental reminiscing to take the bad, learn from it, and grow from there. Or taking the good and building upon what has worked for you before.
Who would have thought there was more to reminiscing than just using the word in a sentence?
I think often reminiscing crosses over to remembering and vice-versa. Sometimes we can not tell the difference because there is usually some form of sentiment associated with recalling the past. If we are just recalling information is likely we focus on the facts exclusively, but if we think of people, places, and events, remembering might not measure up to what goes on in our minds. That is why the word «reminiscing» is more fitting.
If you are telling a story of something you have lived, or a person that you met, or a place you visited and you do it in a reminiscing way, there is more magic to the story. You can transport others to those times, and you can pass on your feelings of the moment more efficiently.
Now, when you use the word «reminiscing,» you will do it with purpose and intention, and if you ever are to reminisce yourself, you will do it properly and know exactly how deeply to thread.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.
«Needless to say» means the same as obviously when placed at the beginning of a satement.
It is either used as hedging, i.e. the speaker makes the statement but points out that they think it’s obvious just in case the statement really is obvious, or it is used to boost the speaker’s ego, i.e. the statement might not be obvious but they make it seem like it is to make the listener think that the speaker is clever.
For example:
The height a body of water is affected by gravity, so the more mass land has the more an ocean is pulled towards it. Needless to say, because of this, the melt water from the Greenland icesheets will cause higher water levels in the southern hemisphere, while lowering the water levels in the nothern hemisphere.
As you can see «needless to say» is normally put before, or within, some concluding statement.
You could also use it parenthetically:
It is, needless to say, very cold in November.
The English language is a vast and diverse landscape of words, phrases, and nuances.
One area that can often trip up writers is transition words in writing.
Discover how to use the most common transition, connective, and linking words: and, but, and however, and many others.
Writing Skills
English Transition Words, Connective Words, Linking Words
Transition/Linking words are helpful in essays because they help make sentences cohesive.
They connect ideas and concepts to help your writing flow better.
The most common transition word is «and» to link two phrases or sentences together.
-
«Amy picked up her books and headed out the door for school.
-
«Sam hitched his backpack higher on his shoulder and hurried after Amy.»
In the first example, Amy picked up her books + she headed out the door
(she did 2 actions)
In the second example, Tom hitched his backpack + he hurried after Amy
(he did 2 actions)
Thers is more than one category of transitional words based on their purpose.
For example:
Addition
Words such as also, furthermore, and besides.
These words add more information to what you already said/wrote.
For example, you mentioned
and want to add some more information about what Sam likes
Using a linking word(s) helps the reader understand there is another fact about Sam.
In this case, the second fact (likes blueberries) contrasts with the first fact (loves green food) because blueberries are not a green food.
You can write a sentence like this:
«Sam loves green foood but also likes blueberries.»
In this sentence, but indicates contrast, and also indicates an additional fact (about Sam).
Contrast
Words such as whereas, while, on one hand, and on the other hand.
These words help organize paragraphs and essays by contrasting ideas between each other.
Cause and Effect
Words such as so, because, since, for, therefore.
These show a cause or effect relationship within sentences.
For example, «Sam has been working all day long, so he will probably go home early.»
In this sentence, Sam goes home early because he worked all day (he is tired!).
This is an example of a cause and effect linkage in writing.
Comparison/Reference
Words like similarly, likewise, also known as correlative conjunctions tie (connect) two similar items together into one thought process to help organize paragraphs in essay writing.
Opinion
Linking words/phrases that show opinion include words like In my opinion, I believe, and From my perspective.
Conclusion
Conclusion transition words and phrases at the end of a paragraph, final analysis, or essay show closure between topics.
They include words like in conclusion, finally, and eventually, which all help express the idea of closure in the writing process.
Time
Linking words that indicate time:
-
before
-
after
-
since
Use these when giving information about chronological order, as they help the reader understand how one event occurred before/after another.
Purpose/Reason
These linking words (transitional conjunctions) link reasons to events by showing cause and effect relationships, including because, for example, and so that while also indicating purposeful action when writing your essay or other content.
Linking Words Examples
What are linking words?
Answer:
The words that connect sentences are called linking words.
These can be difficult to remember, but there are a few to help you get started.
They include:
- therefore
- in addition
- finally
- even though
- also
When you use these words to begin a sentence, make sure to put a comma after them.
You can use many linking words within sentences to add variety to your writing.
How do you use as a result in a sentence?
Answer:
Sam crashed his car. As a result, the car needed to be repaired.
Our new fire alarm alerts us before there’s time for sparks or flames to spread. As a result, we don’t need to worry about a fire starting anymore.
How to use despite in a sentence?
Answer:
Despite the rain, people still walked to work.
We laughed despite it being awkward.
It was too expensive, but he bought it despite his budget.
Despite my fear of heights, I climbed to the top of Mount Everest in 2021.
How to use apart from in a sentence?
Answer:
«Apart from my cat, I don’t like animals.»
The speaker doesn’t like any other animals — only their pet cat.
Apart from can mean excluding. It is often used with this meaning these days.
Here are some more examples:
Apart from can also mean: as well as, in addition to
How to use but for in a sentence
Answer:
Use when you are trying to show that something would not have occurred if not for another thing.
But for the cold, Tom would have fit right in.
But for the severe weather, Tom would have felt very comfortable.
«I would love to ski today but for my fall yesterday when I injured myself.»
But for can also be used in sentences where it essentially means if it were not for.
«But for the lack of time, I would stay longer.
«If it were not for the lack of time, I would stay longer.
how to use even though in a sentence
Answer:
Meaning: despite the fact that
«Even though he was an old man, He enjoyed the beautiful sunset with his cat.»
«I love you even though I cannot always show it.»
«Listening to your inner spirit is more important than material wealth, even though having both is preferable.»
Even though it was very expensive, I bought it because I wanted it so much!
What is the difference between though and although in a sentence?
Answer:
Though is an adverb (meaning nevertheless or however ) often used in negative sentences/phrasess.
It means that something happened despite opposition or disappointment.
Use it to state contrast with an expected outcome:
Although is a conjunction, or linking word (meaning in spite of the fact that (wordy) or even though).
You can interchange although and though in most cases.
In writing, although is more traditional — but people use both although and though in academic and formal writing — it is okay.
What are connective words for essay writing in English?
Answer:
Connective words for essays are important for essay writing because they help to organize and connect ideas. Some common connective words include:
- First of all
- Secondly
- Additionally
- In addition
- Moreover
- Finally
- To conclude
FAQ
What are transition words?
Transition words are connecting or linking words in writing that connect one idea to another. They help the reader understand how the ideas in a text are connected and related to each other.
How can I use transition words in my writing?
There are many different ways to use linking words; essay writing, for example, uses them to connect ideas in a logical way. In fiction writing, they can be used to connect scenes or events.
Do I need to learn all the transition words and phrases used in academic writing?
No, not all of them. But you should learn the most common transitional words and phrases used in writing. Many transition words are not specifically for academic writing. However, some common transition words include «however,» «therefore,» and «thus,» can be used in academic writing essays.
Transition words and phrases help connect ideas and make your writing flow smoothly. Without them, your writing would sound choppy and abrupt.
Learning various transition words and phrases will help you improve your writing skills and become a better communicator overall.
Is a transitional word the same as a connective?
A connective is a word that connects two clauses or two sentences. A transitional word is a word that indicates the relationship between two ideas in a text.
Which transition word/phrase should I use to indicate a contrasting view to a previous argument?
Examples:
-
However, despite this evidence, some people still believe that video games are harmful. On the other hand, there are those who argue that video games can actually be beneficial.
-
While it is true that video games might have some negative effects, there are also positive outcomes associated with playing them
-
In contrast to what has been argued, there are also many benefits of playing video games.
Which transition word/phrase should I use to indicate a supporting view to a previous argument?
There are a few different transition words and phrases that can be used to indicate a supporting view to a previous statement, such as «furthermore,» «additionally,» «in addition,» or » moreover.»
More transition words that indicate support: In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, Besides
How do I use sequential transitions, words like «first,» «second,»…?
First, second, third, fourth, fifth… These are all words that can be used to signal transitions in your writing. By using these words (or others like them), you can create a clear and easy-to-follow structure for your reader. In addition, using sequential transition words and phrases can also help to make your writing more concise.
Here are some tips for using sequential transitions in your writing:
Use them to signal the order of events. When you are recounting a series of events, transitions can help to indicate the order in which they occurred.
Use them to signal time. Transitions can also be used to signal when something happened.
Which transition words are best for SEO writing?
The best transition words SEO writers use vary depending on the content and the audience. However, some general tips that may be useful include using transitions that are common and easily understood by readers, as well as those that help to create a logical flow between ideas.
Top transition words used in SEO writing:
- Clearly: used to introduce a point that is obvious
- Specifically: used to provide exact details
- Actually: used to introduce a point that contrasts with expectations
- Obviously: used to indicate something that is easy to understand
- Moreover: used to add additional information in support of an idea
- Hence: used to emphasize the logical consequence of an idea
- Finally: used to emphasize the last point in an argument.
- Lastly: used to conclude a topic or list.
- Undoubtedly: used to express certainty
- Unquestionably: used to express strong agreement
- In any case: used to introduce an alternative point of view
- At any rate: used to indicate a different viewpoint or opinion
- All things considered: used to express that all arguments have been weighed.
- Given these points: used to introduce a new point or summarise prior points
- In conclusion
- Provided that: used to introduce a condition
- So long as: used when introducing a condition that must be met for something to happen.
- In other words: used to restate a point in different terms.
- To put it another way: also used to rephrase an idea.
- That is to say: used to express something in different words.
- Therefore: used to introduce a logical conclusion or inference
- However: used to introduce an opposing viewpoint
- Consequently: used to express the result of an action
- Furthermore: used to add additional information in support of an idea
- Additionally: provides extra information in the same vein as ‘furthermore’
Top SEO transition words recommended by Yoast SEO:
- On the other hand: introduces a different viewpoint
- Despite this: acknowledges an opposing stance
- In addition to: provides additional information that is related
- Instead of: presents an alternative option
- As a result of: expresses the consequence of a particular action
- For example: provides an illustrative case or situation
Additionally, it is often helpful to use keyword-rich transitions to signal to search engines what the content is about and how it is related to other pieces of content on the website. Ultimately, the goal is to create a writing style that is both effective and efficient in terms of SEO.
Are there any special copywriting SEO transition words?
Yes, there are a few key transition words that can signal to search engines that your content is relevant and informative. These include:
- First
- Secondly
- Thirdly
- Finally
- In conclusion
- To summarize
‘Which’ is a ‘wh’ word and people often think that it is only used while asking a question. But that’s not true. It is one of the most grammatically confusing words used in English language, despite being so common. While asking a question, you can use it like this:
‘Which city you are moving to?’
However, it is often used interchangeably with ‘that’ and ‘who’, but there are certain rules you need to follow. It’s confusion with ‘that’ is most common when it is used as a determiner. To understand how to use the word ‘which’ in a sentence, oneHOWTO looks at all its different uses and explains when and when it is not needed.
Contents
- Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses
- Using ‘which’ in a question
- Using ‘which’ in a relative clause
- Use ‘which’ or ‘who’
- Use of ‘which’ with ‘of’
- Use of ‘which’ to avoid repetitions
Restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses
If you are confused about using ‘which’ or ‘that’ in a sentence, you need to understand the differences between the restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses.
For example:
‘I ate the chicken that was spoiled’
In this example, the word ‘that’ has introduced a restrictive relative clause. This means the clause contains important information about the noun that follows. If you decide to rule out this kind of clause, you may affect the meaning of the sentence and sometimes it may not make any sense at all.
In British English, ‘which’ can be used interchangeably with a restrictive ‘that’. Like ‘I ate the chicken which was spoiled’. This kind of sentence structure may be correct, but it is not normally used in formal forms of writing.
Another type of relative clause is the non-restrictive relative clause. This type of clause may have extra information you might leave out without affecting the structure or meaning of the sentence.
For instance ‘I ate spoiled chicken, which made me ill’
In this kind of sentence, if you leave the clause, you may have less information but that doesn’t affect the its structure. ‘I ate spoiled chicken’ is a complete sentence in itself. Note that the non-restrictive relative clause often has a comma which sets off the extra information, while the restrictive clause does not have a comma which makes the information essential.
Using ‘which’ in a question
The word ‘which’ is used in questions as an interrogative pronoun and determiner. You may use it while asking for some specific information, such as ‘which car are we going in?’ ‘Which’ can also be used in indirect statements and questions. For example, ‘find out which book he is reading at present’. Both ‘which’ and ‘what’ can be used to ask questions. ‘Which’ is used when the question has a restricted range of answers and ‘what’ is used when there is no limitation to the possible answers.
Note the difference:
For instance, what is your favorite color?
Which is your favorite color? Red or pink?
The first sentence asks about the favorite color of the person, which can be any color on the palette. There are no limitations to the answer. But in the second sentence, the person is given two choices, red and pink, and they have to choose between these two options only. This means that the answer has limitations and ‘which’ would be the correct word to use.
Using ‘which’ in a relative clause
Relative clause is a clause that starts with a relative pronoun who, which, that, where, when or whose.
- It is most often used for identifying or defining a noun that precedes it. For instance, ‘do you know the girl who is wearing the red skirt?’
- ‘Which’ is a relative clause that we can use to refer to an animal or to a thing. For example, ‘we have brought many changes which will bring success to the business’
- We can also use ‘which’ in order to introduce some relative clause while referring to a whole sentence or clause. Like ‘she ate a whole plate of noodles, which was because she was hungry’
- ‘Which’ is often used with prepositions. In formal style of writing, a preposition is used before ‘which’ in order to prevent it from ‘hanging’ by the sentence’s end. For instance, formal style will use ‘there are many restaurants in which a variety of cuisines are offered’. This is instead of ‘there are many restaurants which a variety of cuisines are offered in’.
Use ‘which’ or ‘who’
The word ‘who’ refers to people, while ‘which’ refers to things. For instance, ‘I drew a card which was blank’. But most of the time, ‘which’ appears in a restrictive way. This restrictive form generally illustrates by using ‘that’ instead of ‘which’. The word ‘which’ is often reserved for non-restrictive functions. In that case, the information such a sentence provides is not required.
In the above example, it is important information that the card drawn was blank. In most cases, the word ‘who’ is used to refer to a person, but sometimes, ‘that’ can also be used, mainly in British English. But in formal writing, this use of ‘that’ is incorrect and people should be referred to by ‘who’ only.
Use of ‘which’ with ‘of’
Sometimes, we use ‘which’ followed by ‘of’. This kind of construction is often used which selecting a few among many. For instance, ‘which of the following options are correct?’ In this reference, a number of options are given and a person has to choose the correct one only.
Sometimes, ‘which one’ is also used, in which case you have to choose one among many. For instance, ‘which one are you talking about?’. There may be many things or people in front of you and you have to choose the one about which the speaker is talking. Although ‘which one’ can be used to choose among people, it is often used to choose among objects. For people, the correct sentence would be ‘whom you are talking about?’.
Use of ‘which’ to avoid repetitions
Sometimes, if you have already used ‘that’ in a sentence, you may choose to write ‘which’ in order to avoid repetition of the word ‘that’. For instance, ‘that which you cannot see’. In this sentence, ‘which’ is used because ‘that’ was already used and you cannot write two ‘that’ words in a sentence. Whether it is required or not, this kind of sentence is often constructed to avoid any awkward formations. ‘That that you cannot see’ is not technically incorrect, but the use of ‘which’ instead of a second ‘that’ is more preferable.
If you want to read similar articles to How To Use The Word ‘Which’ In A Sentence, we recommend you visit our Learning category.
by Liz Walter
Many learners of English have problems with articles (the words a, an and the), especially when they don’t exist in their own language. This blog looks at some of the basic rules.
The number one rule is this: if a word is countable (e.g. one book, two books), you must always use an article (or my, his, etc.):
I read a book. √
I read book.
This is true even if there are adjectives before the noun:
He drives an old car. √
He drives old car.
Never use a or an with a word that is plural (e.g. books, trees) or uncountable (e.g. water, advice):
I asked her for advice. √
I asked her for an advice.
Note that we use a in front of words that start with a consonant sound (a horse, a carrot) and an in front of words with a vowel sound (an apple, an elephant).
The next most important thing to understand is the difference between a/an and the. Basically, we use a/an when we don’t need to say which thing we are talking about. We use the to talk about a specific thing:
I caught a train to London. (it doesn’t matter which train)
The train was late. (that particular train was late)
We often use a when we mention something for the first time, and then change to the when it is clear which thing we are talking about:
He was talking to a man. The man was laughing.
She gave him a present. The present was very expensive.
We also use the when it is obvious which thing we are talking about or when there is only one of something:
Could you shut the door, please?
I cleaned the bathroom this morning.
He travelled around the world.
The sun is hot today.
If you stick to the rules above, you will be correct in almost all cases. However, there are a few exceptions, and the following are the most useful ones to learn:
We don’t use a/an before the names of meals:
We had lunch at noon.
We don’t use a/an before words like school, prison, or college when we are talking about them in a general way:
I hope to go to college.
He spent three years in prison.
With the word ‘hospital’, there is a difference between British and American English:
My brother’s in hospital (UK) / in the hospital (US).
We use the before the names of shops or places where we go for services when they are the ones we usually go to:
I need to go to the supermarket.
She went to the doctor’s.